BB News Special Edition dtd 31 July 2001

THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS -SPECIAL EDITION DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY (issued monthly by G. Berghold) JuLY 31, 2001 (all rights reserved) IF YOU LIVE IN NY (NYC), NJ (Passaic), PA (Coplay) or CANADA (Toronto): SEE AUGUST SCHEDULE OF CANTUS FELIX -BURGENLAND CHOIR -VISIT TO US TO RECIPIENTS. If you don't want to receive these newsletters, email with message "remove". ("Cancel" will cancel membership, homepage listings and mail.) Send address and listing changes to the same place. Add your full name to email. To join, see our homepage. We can't help with non-Burgenland family history. Comments and articles are appreciated. Our staff and web site addresses are listed at the end of the newsletter. Introductions, notes and articles without a by-line are written by the editor and reflect his views. While no newsletter was planned for July 31, we wish to bring you these timely articles. This special edition of the newsletter includes: * Report From Gerry Berghold's Trip * Final Invitation To BB Minneapolis Picnic * Burgenland Choir Cantus Felix Coming To North America * Hannes Graf Joins Staff-Picnic Pictures & Music * Staff Listing TRIP REPORT - GERRY & MOLLY BERGHOLD VISIT BURGENLAND ONCE MORE In 1974 we came to Austria for the first time, unknown Auslanders, knowing no one. In July 2001, we came for the fifth time and were overwhelmed. We came originally to seek ancestors, we have since found ancestors, cousins, friends and the Burgenland Cross of Honor. Molly and I are still recovering from this wonderful experience. We would like to share some of our trip memories with you: The help of Albert Schuch, Klaus Gerger, Walter Dujmovits and others in preparing for our trip. Albert Schuch and Elizabeth Zalka as they greeted us on our first day at the Hotel Burgenland in Eisenstadt. Elizabeth (a former palace guide) familiarizing us with Eisenstadt and the Esterhazy Schloss-a private tour. Fritz Königshofer meeting us at the Haydn Museum followed by a talk with intendant Walter Reicher and later his personally guided tour. Behind the palace scenes of the Haydn Festival. Cousin Klaus Gerger joining us at the RC Diocesan Archives-the silence as we reviewed the earliest Güssing, Heiligenkreuz and Rechnitz Church records. Help arriving in the person of Regierungsrat Josef Altenburger from St. Margarethen. Walter Reicher explaining the history of the Haydnsaal and taking us through the many steps and stations of the Kalvarienberg. "Many stairs Gerry, but God will guide you." Heuriger (wine and food) in Rust with Burgenland Bunch members Gerhardt and Martine Lang and daughter-in the courtyard of a building from the 16th century. Meeting and dinner with BB member Ingrid Linhart. So many German books purchased at the Landesarchive and elsewhere that they had to be posted home by friends. Gifts of books, food and wine. Inge Schuch arriving at our hotel to guide us to her parents' home in Kleinpetersdorf. "Grumpen and Töpfen Strudel" prepared by her welcoming mother, followed by a Schuch family tour of Bernstein, Mariasdorf Kirche and Castle Lockenhaus. The magnificent woodwork in the home of Inge's father, a retired "Tischler." Inge's ever ready help when my "deutsch" failed me. "Summit" meeting of Burgenländische Gemeinschaft (BG) and Burgenland Bunch (BB) at the Stegersbach home of Walter Dujmovits and family-delicious lunch prepared by Mrs. Dujmovits. Wine, camaraderie, agreement on important issues and plans for the future. Tour of the Güssing Auslander Museum by Walter Dujmovits Jr. Special stand provided for BB Auswanderer Surname book. Copies of the book to Landeshauptmann Niessl and others. The books were prepared by Klaus Gerger from Home Page lists maintained by Tom Steichen and Bill Rudy. Meeting the Güssing Gerger Family in their home in the shadow of Güssing Castle- more cousins. Joined by Klaus Gerger's wife Heidi and daughters Vicky and Eva. Being guests of BB members Heinz & Hildegard Koller at the Güssing Burgspiel-an evening of fine entertainment at the castle-the medieval home of the Batthyánys. Heinz in period costume. Meeting Frank Hoffmann, castle play production manager. The castle now has a lift from the parking lot, a wine cellar and a restaurant. Sunday morning violinist Toni Stricker Concert at reconstructed St. Emerich's Church, Ronok, Hungary-the Kollers providing reserved seats in the very front of the church. The Burgenländische Gemeinschaft picnic, among the wine cellars of Moschendorf, a pure Burgenland festival. Interviews with ORF (Radio-TV Austria) and meeting so many BB and BG members. Everyone's pleasure over my award. BB members and parents from as far away as Vienna joined the festivities with 200 visitors from America. BG president Walter Dujmovits and vice-president Ewin Wienhofer presenting me with an honorary BG membership pin & parchment scroll. Landeshauptmann Hans Niessl investing me with the Ehrenzeichung des Landes Burgenland. My thank you in German, ending with "Ich bin ein Burgenländer." The emotional singing of the Landeshymne. Meeting, lunch and guided tour with historian Ivan Bariska and wife in Köszeg, Hungary arranged by the Kollers, Inge Schuch as interpreter and Klaus Gerger as chauffer and guide. Later viewing the 13th century Cathedral at Jak, and after many adventures, finding the Pinkamindszent, Hungary cemetery of my Tarafas ancestors. Visiting the Güssing Cloister Archives with Brother Marcellus. The "Schatzkammer" of the Cloister library and special viewing of Cloister treasures, incunabula and early Güssing records. Tour of Rosenberg, with Heinz Koller and the Gergers. My grandfather Sorger's home! Sought twice and never found-now found at last with the knowledge that the house nos. had changed. Wine with newly found Wagner and Gerger cousins. Burgenländische Gemeinschaft "Buschenschank" (Weintaufen) in an old wine "Kellerstöckel" in Glassing Bergen with BG members, Miss Burgenland and visitors from America. A night of much "gemütlichkeit." Singing "Show Me The Way To Go Home" with Walter Dujmovits. Viewing the old Sauerzopf home of Albert Schuch's aunt in the Stegersbachhauser region-restoration in process. Another period Burgenland home and a hearty welcome. Cemeteries and war memorials in family villages-the memory of those long gone. Visit with Bankerlsitzer editor Peter Sattler and wife in Rudersdorf and new Berghold cousins (Schabhüttl)in the Gasthaus across the street, once a private stage stop for the Batthyánys. Visit with the Gröller family in Neustift-another period "bauer" home with antique farm artifacts in outbuildings and barn. Visits with cousins Gilly in Poppendorf and Friedl in Heiligenkreuz. Much "essen" und "trinken" and family talk. Traffic bound for Hungary roaring by on the E66. Viewing an enlarged Güssing Castle museum and the special collections on loan from Castle Schlaining. More books. Frielichtsmuseum in Gerersdorf. Old Burgenland buildings and artifacts and a display of wonderful reverse paintings on glass in "Burgenland" style. Finding a Panonnian "peasant" painter in the work of Mijo Kovacic. An irate goose attacking Molly at Castle Bernstein when she ventured too close! Meeting in Vienna for a farewell gourmet dinner in a Burgenland staffed restaurant hosted by Inge Schuch with Albert Schuch, Elizabeth Zalka and Viennese friends. Wien, Wien nur du allein. A memory to last forever. And we remember last, but not least, the constant and ever attentive presence and planning of the Schuchs, Gergers, Kollers, and Dujmovits' to make sure we lacked for nothing. No visitors were ever so well treated. Editors Note: Pictures taken by BB members may be seen at a special website created by Contributing Editor Hannes Graf. FOURTH ANNUAL MINNEAPOLIS BB PICNIC (from Susan Peters) The 4th Annual Minneapolis Burgenland Bunch Picnic will be held Sunday, 12 August, 10:00 - 3:00, at Wabun Park in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Same place as in past years. See BB webpage for map. We look forward to seeing our old Burgenland Bunch friends and relatives and meeting new people. Please bring your picnic lunch, drinks and anything else you may need. Also, bring a dish to share with others. Let's have some new contributors this year! Maybe strudels and pastries! The shared salads, desserts and other items are always delicious and much appreciated! Don't forget your documents, pictures, family histories, and books for show and tell. This year's fee will be $5.00 per person. Children under 18 free. This covers the rental cost of the shelter on the picnic grounds and other incidentals such as the cake, door prizes, name tags, etc. The shelter rental is the main driver behind having to charge a fee. Please pay when you arrive. If expenses aren't recovered, we can't continue having the picnic. This would be a shame as there is a lot of networking, information sharing, and finding of new relatives that occurs every year. RSVP's are not required. Please, just come, check-in, get a name tag, pay the fee, and have a good time!!! We hope for great weather. We have been lucky in past years. See you there! Susan and Hap CHOIR CANTUS FELIX COMING TO UNITED STATES IN AUSGUST (from Inge Schuch) The choir "Cantus Felix" is travelling to North America in August. The Burgenländische Gemeinschaft has the pleasure of inviting Burgenländers and friends to three events: Toronto, Canada: Sunday, 19 August ST. PATRICK'S GERMAN PARISH 131 McCaul Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1W3 10:00 a.m. Mass 11:00 a.m. Concert - Parish Hall Pennsylvania: Tuesday, August 21 Coplay Sängerbund 205 S., 5th Street, Coplay / PA 18037 7:30 p.m. Concert New York / New Jersey: Sunday, August 26 Holy Trinity Church Harrison Street / corner Hope Ave, Passaic / NJ 10:00 a.m. Mass 11:00 a.m. Concert in the Parish Hall ______________________________________________________________________________ "CANTUS FELIX" Choir leader: Franz Stangl Krottendorf 100, 7540 Güssing THE STORY OF CANTUS FELIX The choir CANTUS FELIX was founded in the fall of 1991 by students of the Musikschule Güssing - students of choir leader Franz STANGL - and friends. The choir now has 23 members, all from Southern Burgenland. Their repertory ranges from sacred to secular songs from all ages of composition. CANTUS FELIX gives 30 to 40 concerts per year. Appearances to date include concerts in various Austrian provinces, in Belgium, Croatia, and Hungary. Highlights: * 1993 and 1994 Concert trips to Croatia * 1996 Concert trip to Nijlen (Belgium) * 1998 Songs for the Christmas charity "Licht ins Dunkel" of the Austrian Broadcasting Company (ORF) * 1999 Benefit concert for the charity "Neighbor in need" * 1999 and 2000 Participation in the Güssing castle plays ("Landflucht") * 2000 Participation in the ORF production "Supreme choirs" * 2001 Concert trip to Canada and the United States Choir leader Franz STANGL Born 1962 in Oberpullendorf; grew up in Raiding; resident of Güssing since 1968. Studied trombone and church music at the University for Music and Performing Arts in Graz and Oberschützen. Tought at various music schools between 1981 and 1996; was appointed headmaster of the Musikschule Güssing in 1996. Activities: Organist at the Güssing cloister church (since 1976); member of the "Missa Rhythmica" ensemble (1979-1994); member of the Stadtchor Güssing (since 1986); leads the Singkreis Krottendorf (since 1990); plays the trombone in the brass band "Tromba Quisinia" (since 1991); serves as musical director of the "Güssing castle plays"; has performed in musical productions and the annual carneval cabaret of the "Kulturvereinigung Güssing"; has participated in numerous radio and tv productions. Compositions: * Music for the "Güssing castle plays" (since 1994), * Musical for children "Princess Rose" (1997) and * numerous choir pieces. ED Note: You may even have a distant cousin in this choir. Family names are Stangl, Csar, Fischl, Graf, Kemi, Krachler, Weber, Zankl, Jandrisits, Hofbauer, Weber, Decker, Hochwarter, Hofbauer, Jautz, Luisser, Stifter, Strobl, Fassl, Fikisz, Haaf, Reitner, and Wusits. HANNES GRAF JOINS BB STAFF We have a new staff member in Johannes (Hannes) Graf. Hannes lives in Vienna and will maintain the membership list. He has already put it in alphabetic order. Hannes and his wife Elfie were at the Moschendorf picnic where they presented me with three books. He has also created a website of some great photos taken by Klaus Gerger and Eric Kumbusch and is starting a Burgenland music website. If you'd like to see some picnic pictures and hear some music , take a look at the picnic website page (may take a while to load) that Hannes has put together and listen to the Amerika Lied (the emigrant's song). END OF NEWSLETTER BURGENLAND BUNCH STAFF Coordinator & Editor Newsletter: Gerald J. Berghold; Winchester, VA Burgenland Editor: Albert Schuch; Vienna & Kleinpetersdorf, Austria Home Page Editor: Hap Anderson Internet/URL Editor: Anna Tanczos Kresh; Butler, PA Contributing Editors: Austro/Hungarian Research: Fritz Königshofer Burgenland Co-Editor: Klaus Gerger, Austria Burgenland Lake Corner Research: Dale Knebel Chicago Burgenland Enclave: Tom Glatz Croatian Burgenland: Frank Teklits Home Page village lists: Bill Rudy Home Page surname lists: Tom Steichen Home Page membership list: Hannes Graf, Austria Judaic Burgenland: Maureen Tighe-Brown Western Hungary-Bakony Region: Ernest Chrisbacher Western US BB Members-Research: Bob Unger WorldGenWeb-Austria, RootsWeb Liason-Burgenland: Charles Wardell, Austria BB ARCHIVES>(can be reached via Home Page hyperlinks) Burgenland Bunch Newsletter distributed courtesy of (c) 1999 RootsWeb.com, Inc. P.O. Box 6798, Frazier Park, CA 93222-6798 Newsletter and List Rights Reserved. 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